Operation Red Sea: The Chinese Public's Introduction to Beijing's New Navy

Although it largely escaped the notice of American audiences, Dante Lam’s Operation Red Sea served to introduce the Chinese public to its new navy. Directed by Lam and starring Zhang Yi, Hai Qing, and Huang Jingyu, the film was a huge success, making $579 million domestically, enough for second place all time in the Chinese box office. In addition to being an enjoyable enough action-thriller, Operation Red Sea opens a valuable window onto how the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) wants to manage its public image.